The Pastoral Clinic: Addiction and Dispossession along the Rio Grande

Anthropology is a field of study within the social sciences that examines human cultures, relationships, behaviors, and development. It is typically divided into four categories, although there are many sub-categories and cross-categories that emerge within the field. These categories include archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Garcia’s work falls under the category of cultural anthropology.

Cultural relativism is an anthropological principle emphasizing that a culture should not be measured by how it compares to other existing cultures. Instead, cultural relativism teaches that cultures should be examined within their own contexts and that researchers should maintain respect for diversity while actively seeking to eliminate personal bias.

Garcia uses the term descansos repeatedly in the work. This Spanish word means “resting place,” but it has a nuanced meaning. For some, the term refers to roadside crosses that mark the spot where a loved one died in a car accident. For others, descansos describe any marker of loss, and they hold spiritual significance for the Latinx community in New Mexico. Descansos appear in The Pastoral Clinic as informal memorials for people who died of overdoses.